Pocket-index.



W.B.URMSTON POCKET INDEX.

APPLICATlON FILED SE'T. 9, 1915.

Lm, 5 W we@ .W M M WILLIAM B. URMSTOBT, 0F EL PASO, TEXAS. v

POCKET-.INDEX Specification of Letters Patent.

, Patented Sept.` 26, 1916.

Application filed September 9, 1915. Serial No. 49,758.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM B. URM- sToN, a citizen of the Unitedl States, and

a resident of El Paso, in the county of El Paso and State of Texas, have invented av new' and Improved Pocket-Index, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to pocket indexes, my more particular purpose being to provide a pocket index having generally the form of a card-case or boo-klet'and provided with means whereby the various parts of the device though movable relatively toward each other, are quickly and accurately restored to their respective normal positions by mechanism which for this purpose is practically automatic. Y

My invention further relates to improvements in automatic indexes generally for the purpose of improving the efliciency of the same.

Reference is made to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which like reference characters indicate like parts.

Figure 1 is a plan view of the pocket index showing the same as partly open; Fig. 2 is a plan viewof the index showing it as completely open; and Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3 3 of Fig. l, looking in the direction of the arrow.

The body portion of the pocket index may be made ofleather or any imitation thereof, or of any suitable material, such as cardboard, pasteboard, or flexible sheet material. The back portion 4 supports a pair of end leaves 5, 6, connected thereto by intermediate portions 7, 8, all of these parts being integral and so formed that the end leaves may be folded toward each other and brought substantially parallel with the back portion 4.

Integral with the back portion 4, is an edge leaf 9, which may be bent or folded so as to partially cover the end leaves 5, 6, when the latter are in folded position as indicated in Fig. 1. A number of cards are shown at 10, and these cards are severally provided with ears 11, 12, 18, the latter being provided with appropriate legends A, B, C, or the like, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2. Connected integrally with the back portion 4 is another edge leaf 14, disposed opposite the edge leaf 9 and adapted to fold .over this .edge leaf as well as overthe ulb` covered portions of the end leaves 5, 6. The edge leaf 14 carries a clasp member 15, and the edge leaf 9 carries two clasp members 16, 17, so arranged that either of these two clasp members can be engaged bythe clasp member 15. The clasp members 15, 16 and 17 are so formed that when the clasp member 15 is pressed hard upon either of the clasp members 16', 17, it is firmly secured ordinary snap fastener.' The edge leaf 9 carries a button 18, preferably extending entirely through it. A fastening member 19 is mounted upon the end leaf'5, and a similar fastening member `2O isV mounted upon the end leaf 6. An endless band 21 of soft rubber is secured to the button 18 and extends through the fastening members 19, 20, which for this purpose have each the form of an eye. The rubber band vis so proportioned as to be always under more or less tension, its tension` being increased whenever the edge leaf 9 is swung open, as indicated at the bottom of Fig. 2.

The parts are so arranged that the rubber band 21, by its tension, normally tends to hold the end leaves 5,6 in folded Yposition, as indicated in Fig. 1, and also holds the edge leaf 9 folded over the end leaves 5, 6. This arrangement of the end leaves 5, 6, the edge leaf 9, and the rubber band 21, virtually renders the end leaves 5, 6, and

the edge leaf 9 not only lself-restoring as to position, fbut also self-registering as to accuracy ofsuch position." v

In practice, whenever the edge leaf 9 is swung downwardly, as indicated in Fig. 2, or, in other words, whenever the pocket index is fully open, the nstant'the edge leaf 9 is released, it swings back over the end leaves 5, 6, as indicated in Fig. 3.

It will be thus noted that the cards 10, or analogous contents which may be carried within the pocket index, are alined on three sides, and thus brought practically into exact registry, and that this is due essentially to the automatic action of the pocketindex. Moreover, the tension of the rubber band causes the end leaves 5, 6 and the edge leaf 9 to be heldin proper registry while the index is closed and in the pocket of the wearer. Again, if the number of cards 10 be either increased or diminished, the virtual size of capacity of the pocket index is increased or diminished accordingly, and the end, leaves v5, and the dg@ loo 65 relatively thereto, as is the case with any l' leaf 9 are folded neatly and flatly down upon the cards independently of the number thereof contained in the index. 1f there be a large number of cards carried in the index, the clasp member 15 is connected to the clasp member 16, Whereas if the number' of cards carried be small, the clasp member 15 is secured to the clasp member 17. In this Way the card-case is easily adapted for a varying number of cards to be carried.

rlhe device is peculiarly adapted for facilitating access to the cards at any time. lfone or two cards be taken out, the various movable parts lit themselves to the remaining cards accordingly. rl`hus there is no unnecessary lost motion Within the indeX due to looseness of the cards.

l do not limit myself to the precise construction herein shovvn as variations ymay be made therefrom Without departing from the spirit of my invention.

'l'aving thus described my y invention, what l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. in a pocket index, the combination of a `back member and a pair of end leaves movable relatively to said back member and adapted to fold thereover, a fastening member projecting from the outer face of each end leaf, and an elastic band connected With both of said fastening members for the purpose of normally holding Vthe end leaves in predetermined positions .relatively to said back member.

2. In a pocket index, a back member provided vvith a pair of end leaves and further provided With an edge leaf, said end leaves being adapted to bend toward each other and said edge leaf being free to fold upon said end leaves, and an elastic endless band connected to each of said end leaves and also connected to said edge leaf, said band being normally under tension for .the purpose of folding said edge leaf and said end leaves in predetermined :positions relatively to said back member.

3. In a Card indeX, the combination of a back member, a pair of end leaves connected With said back member and free to be .folded thereupon, Aan edge leaf connected with one edge of said back member and free to be folded upon said end leaves, said edge leaf being provided With a lplurality of clasp members, another edge leaf 'connected With said back .member and provided with a single clasp member forming a mate for each of the said first-,mentioned clasp members, and an elastic band connected to said end leaves and to said first-mentioned edge leaf, said band being normally under tension for .the purpose of holding said end leaves .and said first-mentioned edge leaf in a predetermined relative position.

4l. In a pocket index, ra .back member, a pair of end leaves adapted to fold toward each other and spaced apart at their inner ends when folded, an edge leaf-connected With one edge fof said lback member and adapted to be folded upon said end leaves to .partially cover the same, a tension device connected With .the outer faces of the end leaves and with the inner face of said edge leaf for normally holding said end leaves v.and ksaid edge .leaf in folded position relatively to said back member, and an edge leaf connected With the opposite edge of said back member, the said edge leaves being provided With coacting fastening means.

WILLAM B. URMSTON.

Witnesses:

C. W. BAETZ, H. A. BAKER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing .the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. C. 

